Paprec Virbac to go three hulls

In 2001, Jean-Pierre Dick set himself the challenge of competing in the Vendée Globe. This “personal big bang”, as he calls it, led the skipper and professional vet to become a success story in monohull offshore racing, with four major victories within ten years. In 2011, JP and his backers, Paprec and Virbac, have announced that they will enter the Multi One Championship; a new international crew circuit on one design MOD70 trimarans. Following the Vendée Globe 2012, the skipper from the Côte d'Azur will take the helm of Paprec-Virbac 70.

Why have you decided to choose the MOD70 as of 2013?

“I found it annoying to see albatrosses overtaking me in the great south. It is now time for me to overtake them! This is a new leg in my sailing life which I'm going to cross flying over the water. I am fascinated by speed at sea. Both my sponsors and I are keen on new challenges. We are driven by a taste for adventure and enterprise. The MOD70 project is international and it corresponds to the development of my two major sponsors. From a racing point of view, I am going to find myself sailing with a crew which I enjoy. I am also going discover a new boat, meet new people, and follow new paths. It's really exciting!”

How are you going to get to grips with the multihull?

“Today, I am not a specialist in 70’ multihulls, in the same way as I was not specialist in 60’ monohulls in 2001. So there is the stimulating side of tackling a little-known field and doing everything in my power to get to grips with it. I like to challenge myself, work with a team, move forward and achieve an objective. The crews in the America's Cup have shown that you can go from monohulls to multihulls successfully. Through work with these boats they came to understand things and are now very good. I am not worried. There will be a learning period, but we will be fighting on equal terms very quickly.”

When does the project begin?

“With the commitment of my sponsors behind me, we can launch this project as of now and take the fourth and last French licence. At the moment, the Vendée Globe 2012 is my major goal. I have been working relentlessly for the last 10 years to try and win it. There is a time for everything. At the finish in Sables d'Olonne in 2013, I will go from one hull to three hulls to prepare for the new round-the-world on the MOD70.”

Calendar 2013 – 2015
March 2013: first sailing for Paprec-Virbac 70
May - June 2013: European Tour
October 2013 / April 2014: start of the Ocean World Tour (round-the-world crew race in legs)
August 2014 : Krys Ocean Race (Atlantic – Brest / New York crossing)
2015: One European Tour and one Ocean Race